Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-10-25
CHINATOWN WIPED orr

for the scene of the conAagration
near the center of the Chinese block
OF houses between Main and Mont
gomery streets and south of Wallula
street, and others for the hose house.
The fire being at the lower end of
town it was some time before the
water was turned on the flames.
When the water arrived the fire
had reached the very height of its
fury and was devouring the row of
houses along the south side of Wal
lula street, across from Garrecht's
meat market, and in passing on the
north side of this street the heat was
almost unbearable. Notwithstanding
its intensity the boys grabbed the
nozzle and faced the flames bravely,
although it was with the greatest
difficulty that they managed to hold
their position, which they had to stay
with or see the whole town laid in
waste. Their position was about
half way between Main and Mont
gomery streets, where stream could
be thrown to both corners. The
hovs we're almost overcome with the
heat when a pipe, extending from
Garrecht's well, was turned on them,
and the stream of water that play ed
on the boys enabled them to with
stand the heat, the intensity of which
was sufficient to start a big blaze
several times on the roof Of a shantv
on the north side of Wallula street,
just below Garrecht's butcher shop.
Whenever the roof of this shanty
hlazed the boys would point the noz-
zle in that direction, and as soon
as this blaze was extinguished
would again turn their attention to
the solid row of houses on the south
side OF the street. The building op-
posite Garrecht's shop is Wing KEGS
brick store, so the heat was not so great
at the shop as at the shanty mentioned,
short distance below; but it would
have caught fire if it had not been
kept constantly wet by the buck
ct brigade. The row of China
houses on the east side of Main
street were charred, but crew of men
with buckets prevented blaze on
that side. If the fire had got good
hold on the north side Of Wallula
street, the whole town would now be
in ashes. After the town hydraulic had
uuenched the flames to an extent that
with a continual flow of water and g
south wind there would be no danger
of the fire crossing the street, the
pipe was clogged with the bung of d
barrel. A number of barrels were il
the reservoir, and one of the bungs
coming out passed through the hose
The front and smaller nozzle was de.
tached, and the bung passed through
the larger one, which latter was usee
as the smaller one could not be fas
tened on while the flow of water con
tInued. A stream could not then bt
thrown SO far as when the smallel
nozzle was on, and the town would
still have been in danger haC
the wind blown northward. If there
is such thing as dispensation o
Divine Providence we were then ia
vored with it. A breeze started NJ
and blew southwark, and all thel
felt that the town was safe. Bu
shortly a new source of danger wa
presented. The fire crossed to tn
block west of Montgomery street
and the large Chinese gambling hous
on the corner of Montgomery an
Wallula streets was soon BLAZING
mass, the flames reaching high IN tn
air. The old gambling house on tn
corner north, on the same side OF tn
street that Dryde McClintock's stabi
is located on, and short distanc
south, caught fire. Then it locke
like there was almost sufficient caus
for bidding good bye to all hopes {
: saving the town. The hose coul
/, not reach this building. A lare
E crowd gathered buckets and was SOC
: at the new scene of danger. a llr
: was formed and water passed rapid
g to the roof, the men on the roof soc
h gaining footholds by tearing c
|, shakes. The flames on the roof
[. this building were finally extll
: guished, and by pouring water {
d continually was prevented from r
S catching. If the fire had gained
Il little more headway on this bulldll
t. it would have spread to McClintoei
d residence and stable and finally
y